Feb
27

US: Ukraine filling `void’ left by Yanukovych

KDWN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is welcoming the efforts by Ukraine’s parliament to stabilize the country, and says ousted President Viktor Yanukovych (yah-noo-KOH’-vich) “abdicated his responsibility.”

Press secretary Jay Carney says Yanukovych left a “void” that Ukraine’s lawmakers are trying to fill.

A respected Russian news organization reported that Yanukovych was staying in a Kremlin sanatorium just outside Moscow, and he said still considers himself president.

The parliament has named an acting prime minister.

Carney says the U.S. expects the interim government to protect the security and civil rights of all of citizens in Ukraine, which has a large Russian-speaking population.